Meet Our Team

Jorge

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Jorge founded Vámonos in 2002 after years of taking his students annually to Puerto Rico on immersion trips.

He used to be a full immersion French & Spanish teacher for middle and high school. He loves Jesus, German Shepherds, and finding cool non-touristy places in his travels.

Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, watching basketball, looking for wildlife in national parks, and spending time with family.

Bernardo

LAND OPERATIONS MANAGER

Bernardo runs the land tour operations in Puerto Rico. He loves to share his Puerto Rico with travelers and his passion for off the beaten path spots (and knows where to find the best desserts in the most common but also oddest restaurants).

He speaks Spanish, English, Italian, and a bit of German as well and has lived in at least three continents.

Hobbies: Biking, hiking, going to the beach, reading about other cultures, photography

Michael

VP OF SALES & MARKETING

Michael directs our sales, marketing, and performance departments and oversees most of our international destinations. He is our Argentina, Costa Rica, Spain, and Cuba expert and one who always goes out of his way to make sure travelers are fully satisfied. Michael is a world traveler who has visited more than 30 countries all over the world.

Hobbies: Watching sports and movies, reading, walking, and finding new and true cultural immersion experiences for visitors in our international destinations.

Carrie

ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCE MANAGER

Before joining Vámonos in 2013, Carrie taught both public and private elementary school for years.

She loves to learn new things, hike, and to travel to Puerto Rico.

Hobbies: Knitting, sewing, baking gluten free goodies, bird-watching, photographing nature.

Julie

ACCOUNT MANAGER & PROJECT MANAGER

Before her start with Vamonos in 2012, Julie’s extensive professional career went from being elementary school Support Staff, to being Regional Director & Event Coordinator for Impact World Tour in Scotland and New Zealand; she has done reservation management work in hotels, been an Optometric Assistant, and a missionary. She values and encourages others to serve as they travel and has found it to be life changing.

Hobbies: Exploratory travel, hiking, pottery, skiing, event coordinating, creating music with family & friends and cooking.

Kim

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Kim is in charge of walking group leaders through the tour planning process. She joined the Vamonos team after spending 30 years as the Director of a successful After School Program in which she oversaw children from preschool through 6th grade. In addition, she has vast experience within the legal space having worked as a legal administrative assistant. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, attending concerts and Broadway plays, relaxing on the beach, and teaching English as a second language to adults.

Hobbies: fitness, traveling, photography, reading and listening to audiobooks.

Francheska

LAND TOUR OPERATIONS ASSISTANT MANAGER

Francheska is the assistant of our VP of Operations and oversees our service-learning efforts. She enjoys learning about growing food and farming, reading and dancing. She also loves going to the beach with her kids. Being from southwestern Puerto Rico, she has beautiful beaches to choose from! Francheska loves to be able to help people visit new places so they can learn about the diversity and culture of each destination.

Odelia

FLIGHT COORDINATOR & PROJECT MANAGER

Odelia has worked as a Travel Advisor internationally and has been a valuable Ticketing Agent since 2010. She works extremely hard putting together this vital component of your tour experience. In addition to flights, Odelia is also a Tour Manager and a Tour Assistant.

Hobbies: Travel (of course!), wildlife & environmental conservation, bird watching, hiking, kayaking, and visiting gardens.

Mayra

OPERATIONS & PEFORMANCE TOUR SPECIALIST

Mayra began to work with Vámonos as a Tour Assistant, but with a keen eye for organization and an innate ability to connect with students, she seamlessly transitioned into a multifaceted role, being one of our passionate Tour Directors as well as showcasing her versatility in coordinating full operations. One of her mottos is being “always prepared”.

Having dedicated 21 years to teaching and serving as a Teacher and a Montessori Guide, she made a shift in Her journey and became a certified Tourist Guide and NAI Interpreter. She now channels her enthusiasm into showcasing Puerto Rico’s cultural richness and natural wonders to students from all around the world. She advocates environmental causes, embodying a commitment to recycling, conservation and leaving this world better than she found it.

Hobbies: Mayra finds joy in camping, hiking, and spending quality time in nature with family and friends. An avid volunteer, Scout leader, tree hugger, farmer and reader.

Louise-Hélène

MARTINIQUE OPERATIONS MANAGER

Louise-Hélène was born and raised in Le François, Martinique. She recently joined Vamonos’ team after spending many years working for the hotel and tourism industry in Martinique. Fluent in French, Spanish, and English, Louise-Hélène loves to share her lovely culture, creole world, and island with student and adult travelers. Currently, she lives part of the year in Martinique with her family, and part of the year in Puerto Rico.

Hobbies: Taking people to eat and chat with locals at a neighborhood event called Chez l’Habitant; she also loves hiking, swimming, and spending time with family and friends in Martinique.

Wilfredo

SERVICE LEARNING MANAGER

Wilfredo is Vamonos’ expert in the area of service. He secures our groups’ service learning activities with schools and orphanages and assists with our tours there. He aims to make each group’s service event as memorable and meaningful as possible. He especially loves touring in El Yunque and La Parguera.

When Wilfredo was a 12 year old student he helped his baseball team with the Championship by having the honor of pitching the final game!

Hobbies: Restoring old cars, going to the beach, watching action-superhero movies, spending time in nature and with family.

Michael

PERFORMANCE TOUR COORDINATOR

Michael is responsible for sales & marketing and oversees our international destinations. He is our Argentina, Costa Rica, Spain, and Cuba expert and one who always goes out of his way to make sure travelers are fully satisfied. Michael is a world traveler and has visited more than 30 countries all over the world.

Hobbies: Watching sports and movies, reading, walking, and finding new and true cultural immersion experiences for visitors in our international destinations.

Kevin

PERFORMANCE TOUR CONSULTANT

Kevin is our choir and band performance guru, conductor, and consultant. His international and local experience directing groups and playing even before the Pope has been invaluable to the success of our performance tours.

Kevin enjoys travel, writing choral music, working with wood, and gardening. He is a very experienced choir director who teaches master classes in conducting around the world. He loves to create experiences that are life-enhancing connecting people of different cultures (especially through music and the arts)…but most of all building bridges of friendship and understanding through international and domestic exchange opportunities.

Wendi

TOUR ASSISTANT 

A handyman by profession, Wendi is also our assistant wilderness specialist. His consistent smile and hardworking skills constantly amaze our travelers.

Wendi loves to spend time with his kids and family; he is fearless when it comes to fixing practically anything.

Hobbies: Fixing things, fishing, traveling through Puerto Rico, watching sports.

Iolda

TOUR DIRECTOR

Iolda has been working with Vámonos as a guide since 2016.

In her free time she enjoys art, culture, attending festivals, films, dancing, coffee and travel! When she is not giving tours she can often be found traveling solo to remote places on earth to learn about other cultures and enjoy nature.

She has a deep love for Puerto Rico and promises that once you step on her bus she will take you on a grand adventure and show you the most beautiful things she has ever seen on her island!

Cruz

TOUR DIRECTOR

Cruz is a Biologist from the University of Puerto Rico of Humacao. He loves coffee, cooking, and coffee 😃. Cruz can be found enjoying sports and also is a basketball player.

Hobby: Beach time

Elliot

TOUR DIRECTOR

Elliot has been in the tourism industry since before 2011. Passionate, committed, and perseverant are the best words to describe him. He loves talking about Puerto Rico’s history, culture and nature, and sharing his personal anecdotes growing up in the mountains.

Joseph

TOUR DIRECTOR

Joseph has been in the tourism industry since 2018. He is a former school tutor who loves traveling and getting to know new cultures. Joseph is an animal lover and finds joy in serving the community.

Hobbies: nature, outdoor activities, the beach, and road trips.

Verónica

TOUR DIRECTOR

Verónica enjoys history research and has been a customer service professional for over 15 years. She’s also been in the tourism industry for over 10 years. She enjoys sharing her Puerto Rican culture. She is a homeschool mom and her calendar is often filled with learning events.

Hobbies: museums, theater, festivals, and going to seminars and webinars.

Maritza

Tour Director & Tour Assistant

Maritza has been in the tourism industry since 2015.She is also involved in ecotourism in the center of the island (Jayuya , Utuado, Orocovis). She loves nature and extreme sports such as rappelling, zip lining and caving. she knows most of the waterfalls, rivers and caves in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. She is very passionate about the island and gives her best for those she guides so that they come back and tell others.

Hobbies: travel, gastronomy, visiting national parks and caving.